Summer is not the time you want to be spending cleaning your place. The days are warm and long, and you deserve to be having cocktails waterside and not scrubbing the toilet for the umpteenth time. OK, so you know you want to save time, but you also want to save money, too. Because cleaning should be as easy on your wallet as it is to execute. Luckily, there are some simple ways you can save money, too. Money that's better spent on experiences (or stuff) for you, your little ones, or your significant other.
Want to know how you can clean your home quickly and cheaply? We scoped out several cleaning hacks to keep your home clean and your wallet fat. These hacks are either less expensive than purchasing cleaning products or are staples in most homes, meaning they all give you more bang for your buck.
If your toothbrush is on the way out, don't just throw it away and replace it! Toothbrushes can be used for a number of cleaning hacks. From getting dirt or old food out of your keyboard to cleaning window tracks, a toothbrush is one budget-friendly cleaning hack that will come in handy over and over again.
Have a ring around your bathtub or circling the drain in your sink? Grapefruit and salt are an easy and budget-friendly way to remove that. Just sprinkle the salt on the grapefruit and get scrubbing. Bonus: your bathroom is going to smell awesome.
Whether you do it accidentally or a guest does, watermarks on wood furniture happen. But before you get all bent out of shape trying to budget and find one that looks just like what you want, there is a simple hack that may do the trick. Take your hairdryer to the mark and watch the magic happen. The mark should disappear!
Millennials have a tendency to favour paper towels over cloths for their multiuse abilities, however, they're both expensive and bad for the environment. Use plain flour and a scoop to clean liquid spills and save the paper towels for something important (like pizza grease).
Out of Swiffer dry pads and out of cash? Have no fear. Throw an old sock around your Swiffer (or any mop, really) and go to town catching the dust that's gathered in the corners and on the floor. These also make great ways to dust, period. Keep them around and use them over and over again instead of those really expensive paper towels we just talked about.
You most likely already have a lemon in your house, but if you don't, it's a cheap cleaning tool. Mix it with salt to clean your cutting boards (use this instead of bleach for a more natural cleaner!), or use half of the lemon to rub down kitchen hardware, making it look extra shiny.
Save yourself the hassle of cleaning up a used pan and save water, too. Line baking sheets or pans with aluminium foil, and then when you're done, roll it up and throw it away. The pan is still clean, and the mess is long gone.
From curtains to carpets, soda's stain-removal properties can definitely come in handy. As soon after a spill as possible, pour soda water on it, dab, and let it sit. Fizzy drinks are also a great way to clean a toilet. Pour some in, let it sit, and then flush it down for a toilet that shines like the top of the Chrysler Building.
Have a gross grill? Use an onion! Cut it in half and scrub the crusty stuff off the grill pan. Musty smell in a room? Use an onion! Cut it in half and let it chill for a bit. The onion will absorb the smell. There are so many things this little vegetable can do; never underestimate the power of an onion.
There really isn't anything that bicarbonate of soda can't do. Like, seriously. From deodorising smells to cleaning grout, one box of bicarbonate of soda can go a long way. It also makes the best oven cleaner (I know by firsthand experience), and when mixed with water, it can seriously lift grime from just about anywhere.
Probably the cheapest cleaning supply you can buy, vinegar has so many great uses. From scrubbing cloudy glasses to removing lime buildup, there are so many things a bottle of white vinegar can do. Add it to water for several completely new purposes, too, like cleaning the microwave.
A staple in almost every household, rubbing alcohol is another magic elixir when it comes to cleaning. The good can actually get grease stains out when mixed with salt and can also disinfect those hard-to-clean areas; just apply with a Q-tip.
These little things are serious lifesavers — take it from someone who owns a Husky. Not only can lint rollers help remove pet hair from yourself or others, but they can also remove dust from lampshades and other soft surfaces. You can also use them to pick up broken glass or even glitter from that party you had three months ago.
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14Tumble Dryer Sheets
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
Not just used to help prevent static cling and make your clothes smell nice, dryer sheets can also clean dust buildup from a plethora of surfaces across your home. From blinds to entryway tables, skip the expensive bottle of dusting spray and invest in this dual-purpose product.
Keeping some canned air around the house can definitely help save both time and money. You can use the air to clean dust off blinds (follow this with a quick vacuum) or get dust or dog hair out of vents or hard-to-reach places. This can also be used to clean the various filters you have in your home, extending their life and lowering replacement costs.
